LSU Spring Game 2012: Date, Start Time, Radio Info, Predictions and More

After falling just short of its goal last season, the LSU Tigers will be start on their road to redemption this season with their annual spring game on Saturday. The Tigers were defeated in the National Championship Game this past season by the rival Alabama Crimson Tide, but Les Miles' squad looks to be one of the best in the country once again.

Gone are key players like Morris Claiborne, Michael Brockers, Jordan Jefferson, Jarrett Lee and Rueben Randle, but the Tigers are well known for quickly replacing old stars and developing new ones. The spring game will be the start of that as it is, in a lot of ways, the official start of the run up to the 2012 college football season.

The Tigers will do battle against each other on the field on Saturday and it will have a huge bearing on which players will be paramount in LSU's attempt to reclaim its No. 1 ranking. Football season may seem like a long way away, but this should be enough to whet the appetite of any LSU fan.

Here is everything you need to know for Saturday's LSU spring game.

Where: Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

When: Saturday, March 31 at 1:30 p.m. ET

Listen: WNNX 104.5 FM (Baton Rouge)

Live Streaming Audio: LSUSports.net

Position Battles to Watch

Quarterback: Zach Mettenberger vs. Stephen Rivers vs. Jerrard Randall

Starting Running Back: Alfred Blue vs. Spencer Ware vs. Kenny Hilliard vs. Michael Ford

Starting Wide Receiver: Russell Shepard vs. Odell Beckham vs. Jarvis Landry

Defensive Tackle: Anthony Johnson vs. Josh Downs vs. Ego Ferguson

Zach Mettenberger Will Separate from QB Field

Although big junior quarterback Zach Mettenberger has been the anticipated heir at quarterback for quite some time, expect him to make it official during the spring game. Mettenberger has attempted just 11 passes for the Tigers, but he appears to have all the physical tools necessary to be a standout signal caller in the SEC.

With Jefferson and Lee both graduating, there is a major hole to fill for LSU under center. Mettenberger has been battling with Rivers and Randall for the starting job in spring practice, and by all accounts Mettenberger has been the clear winner thus far.

As long as Mettenberger doesn't fall flat in the spring game he should solidify his starting spot. It would take a huge effort from Rivers or Randall to supplant him, and I don't anticipate that happening.

LSU Defense Won't Miss a Beat

The LSU defense will lose key components such as cornerback Morris Claiborne and defensive tackle Michael Brockers to the NFL draft, but it will become quite apparent during the spring game that things haven't changed one bit.

Despite the fact that both of those players are solid bets to be taken in the top 10, the Tigers had the deepest defense in the nation last season, and that seems to be the case on a yearly basis for LSU.

Cornerback Tyrann Mathieu and a host of other playmakers are still in the fold, so I wouldn't expect much, if anything, in terms of a drop-off. There is no question that the offense will be out to prove itself since it has long been considered the inferior unit when compared to the defense, but defense has always been the team's hallmark under Miles.

There's reason to believe that we will see more of the same in 2012.